Speyfest, renowned for celebrating the best in traditional and contemporary Celtic music in the heart of Moray, has unveiled the full main stage line-up for its 28th edition, taking place from 25th – 27th July 2025.
Located in the picturesque village of Fochabers in the north east of Scotland, Speyfest will once again become a focal point for fans of trad and folk music, transforming the playing fields into a tented village and vibrant hub of music, culture and community spirit.
A number of global acts are among those set to perform and make their mark in Moray, while several Scottish acts will visit the festival for the very first time, delivering something new for Fochabers fans.
The newest headliners announced for the 2025 bill include explosive six-piece Trail West who will be celebrating their 15th anniversary next year. This follows on from their incredible recent success with three consecutive sell-out shows at Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom, two performances at Scotland’s biggest entertainment venue – the OVO Hydro – and being crowned Live Act of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2023.
Trail West will close out the festival’s Friday night just ahead of electro-trad duo Valtos’ Speyfest debut. Comprising Skye natives Daniel Docherty and Martyn MacDonald, Valtos have taken the trad and electronic music worlds by storm since their debut shows in December 2021, captivating audiences at festivals and sold-out venues nationwide.
Earlier in the evening, Speyfest will open with a double headline concert featuring Anglo-Irish legends Flookand exceptional seven-piece Mànran.
There is an ever present abundance of individual virtuosity amongst Flook’s four members, but there is also something wholly unique when this iconic band step on stage together, their playing always an intuitive exchange between the various flutes, whistles, frets and skins. After three decades Flook show no sign of letting up in their brilliance, dynamism, or inventive flair and will return to Speyfest as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations.
Multi-award-winning Celtic supergroup Mànran will bring new material recently playlisted on BBC Radio 2, along with favourites from their 15-year back catalogue, to audiences when they headline Friday’s seated concert. Milne’s High School Fiddlers also join them on the Friday concert bill.
Neo-trad trio Project Smok join the bill for Saturday night, bringing their infectious energy and incredible skill to the Speyfest stage.
Speyfest Sunday – a day traditionally attended by music fans of all generations – will welcome Canadian modern folk outfit The East Pointers for their unique brand of dancefloor-shaking, ceiling-rattling, electro-trad.
Another international act will make their maiden trip to Speyfest in the form of US string band rockers The Hot Seats. Bringing their “old-time music with attitude” (The Washington Post) to Fochabers.
Glasgow based six-piece band TRIP, whose music unites the kindred Celtic traditions of Scotland, Ireland, Northumbria and the Isle of Man; a reflection of where each band member hails from, will also make their first appearance at the beloved Moray event.
Scottish folk band BROMA will all share their flair for contemporary ceilidh music on the Main Stage. Sunday’s main stage bill will be completed by the heartfelt music of two local acts, steeped in the fiddle tradition of the local area – Auld Fochabers Fiddlers and The Arc Fiddlers.
Speyfest Chair Ashleigh Macgregor said: “Being able to bring the very best in both international acts and promising Scottish talent to this corner of Scotland is what Speyfest is all about. Our line-up reflects both our rich musical heritage and our commitment to putting on fresh and exciting talent that we know our audiences will love. We’re expecting attendances of around 4,000 across the week for what will be our 28th edition and we really cannot wait.”
Kim Carnie said: “We are delighted to have been invited back to Speyfest. It’s a great festival with a great audience – can’t wait to head back up to Fochabers!”
The newly announced acts join Celtic giants Skipinnish, high octane Red Hot Chili Pipers, folk sensationSiobhan Miller, Scottish fiddle legends Session A9 and much-loved local outfit Tour Bus Fortune whowere announced as the first acts on the bill last month.
In addition to music, the festival will host a variety of local food and drink options, traditional music and singing workshops, a non-denominational Celtic Kirk Service and its free Craft Fair, ensuring a culturally enriching experience for all attendees.
Tickets for Speyfest 2025 will go on sale at 12pm on Wednesday, 27th November. Available ticket options include weekend passes, concert tickets, stomp tickets, combined tickets, all-day Sunday tickets, and a student discount weekend pass. Entry to the craft fair, held on Saturday afternoon, is free.
First held in 1995, Speyfest has grown from a local event with one small tent holding around 300 people, to a 1500-capacity festival and much-loved jewel in the traditional music calendar in the north-east.
Speyfest will return on 25th – 27th July 2025. Tickets are on sale from 12pm today, Wednesday 27th November 2024 at https://events.liveit.io/speyfest/speyfest-2025. Weekend tickets are available for early bird prices for locals from Christies the Chemist in Fochabers.
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